Riding Kanuga Bike Park Part 2 - The Black Trails (and ending with a crash)

[@RickBondjr]

During the speaking (non trail video) parts of this video I thought you were sporting a mohawk. Lol. Cool ride!

[@ashevillescarborough]

Knarly for sure! I’m actually quite scared of that rock garden more than the roll just past it.. hope that elbow is all healed up!

[@prof_writer]

Dawson is so talented and natural. He makes it look easy with no effort and without much concern.

[@ClintGibbs]

Yeah, Dawson is one of the smoothest riders I've seen. He started riding single track when he was three and was getting air by the time he was four. When you start that young everything is very natural.

[@AndreLaurentMTB]

Ouch! Definitely... One had to think that elbow pads would have stopped the hard elbow strike & gash. Always concerned that wearing protection can cause a false sense of security that leads to even bigger crashes and more serious injuries. However, being a mountain biker, you get up, swear, shake it off and keep riding. Stress less, ride more. Stay safe.

[@AaronSchroder]

Ouch Clint. That crash was just unlucky mate. The side bank, off camber, drop off was just super awkward and your wheel(s) just skidded away to the right. You were thinking about the next feature. Very unlucky. That said those trails looked pretty steep with plenty of off camber challenges. I think I'll stick to blue trails for my comfort zone. Those black and double black are above my pay grade. Good on you for following someone young down that stuff. 👍

[@notfastenough]

Clint - I crashed in the same exact spot earlier this year and came away with a dislocated shoulder. Glad yours wasn't as serious. That trail is no joke. The Go Pro's just don't do it justice.

[@hansschotterradler3772]

Good to see you recovering. Elbow pads, perhaps chest pads, etc... I wonder if one tends to ride more aggressive with all that extra protection??

[@snat6299]

Just rode paint it black the other day for the 1st time and that tree kept getting in my way too. Twice I ended up stopping even though I thought about before I dropped in on the second run. Your son sending that 1st drop was scary, it’s a high one with a quick turn, which none of us wanted to crash on. I love that big table top in the middle lower part of the trail coming down that steep decline don’t remember seeing it in the video?

[@brucehumphries6889]

Got to that first big feature and Dad said, nope! I would have done the same

[@robtodd4726]

Glad you are OK!

[@growell8832]

You're a good Dad, thinking about your son's welfare and sacrificing your own. God bless you!

[@johnglynn7795]

Hello Clint, long time since I have seen one of your videos. Despite the wipe out, it looks like you had a great time with your son!. See you have TRANSITIONED from your Niner days! Too HOT here in PHX to ride this summer. Recouperatin from knee scope surgery anyways. Blue skies, Jg

[@ClintGibbs]

Good to hear from you! I use a mix of Niner and Transition now. Niner cross country and gravel bike, Transition trail and enduro bike.

[@jg8273]

Accidents happen, definitely should wear pads on rock gardens. Could of been worse. Watching back you had plenty of time to change lines or just break out of the trail. Brutal hit.

[@frankstrobel4350]

thumbs up for the support.....not for the crash :)

[@awesomexistence]

CLINT, have a great Fathers Day!

[@totalchaos80]

I'll be riding here solo in early October. I'm stressing if I should rent an ebike or not. I'm not a confident jumper to begin with but I'm good with DH Gnar. I'm worried neither will feel right if I'm on a rental instead of my trusted bike. I'm guessing 10 rides up to the top will be max on a non ebike. Bike plus pass is the equivalent to 3 day lift in snowshoe which is kind of insane too.

[@ClintGibbs]

It’s a remarkably easy climb to the top, considering the amount of downhill you get. They’ve designed it really well. If it were me, I would just ride the bike I’m used to. You can ride pretty much anything on that trail without having to jump. Just look at some sections before you ride them on the Black diamond trails. Be very careful on natural selection!

[@travisknight8548]

Glad you're okay now from the crash, Clint. How'd the bike fare, any damage?

[@ClintGibbs]

Bike was totally fine. I took all the impact!

[@kellyriffle4750]

Shoulda done Hemlock Epoch first! Dawson would love that trail.... Natural Selection,the name fits,it’s a serious double black.

[@jinavl]

That 1st rock drop is much much bigger in person

[@domfluin1819]

I hope you heal up quickly and the knot goes away soon as amazing when you have something like that how often you knock it just doing normal day to day stuff. I just wondered (as someone who’s son is growing up quickly), do you do much training off the bike to be able to physically keep up with Dawson? You obviously ride a lot and are fit, but do supplement your riding with gym work etc?

[@ClintGibbs]

I do a short core workout every weekday morning and then go down to the gym and do breaks during work where I do pull-ups, push-ups, planks and some lunges. But I do a lot of gravel and cross country which Dawson does not do, so my cardiovascular fitness is quite a bit higher than his. But skill wise he passed me awhile ago!

[@devinh085]

Hey Clint did you see a xc or enduro race at kanuga?

[@ClintGibbs]

Yeah, the enduro uses some serious trails. Wish I could get up there for it

[@devinh085]

I only did the XC but I rly enjoyed the trail

[@prof_writer]

Clint thank you I just checked out the park and noticed it is in Hendersonville. I live in Boone about a 2-hour drive north. I am an older conservative rider how much of that park would you say is easy smooth and rideable?

[@ClintGibbs]

The green trail should be fine and if you're skills are decent the blue trails will be fine at slower speeds.

[@prof_writer]

@@ClintGibbs Thanks my local park is called Kerr Scott Dam in Wilkesboro North Carolina. It has about 30 miles of trail and I can ride most it.

[@saddleweary9709]

The escape goat I hear most is that elbow pads are to hot, but I think the reality is riders think it looks rookie. Smart, advanced riders use them in my book. Not wearing them is kinda like those driving 65mph on country roads and thinking they're better drivers than those who drive 50. Deer threw the radiator or worse and out of work from elbow injuries is not advancment. I'm talking to your young fans Clint, not you😄. Loving the content execpt for you getting hurt but maybe it helped prevent a future injury for someone.

[@jinavl]

the camera doesnt do these trails justice..its so much more narlier in person

[@paulgiles7456]

Abrupt stop, not good. Hope your all better now?

[@ClintGibbs]

Yes, about 95% better now. Still have a bump under my arm where the stitches were that is painful if I hit it on something. But otherwise I'm back to my normal activities.

[@mancello]

@@ClintGibbs Apply heat and massage that area to break up any adhesions.

[@jeffdillon3517]

Looks like you’re rocking a Mohawk in the beginning of the video

[@MorbiousTactical]

What bike are you riding?

[@ClintGibbs]

Transition Sentinel

[@MorbiousTactical]

@@ClintGibbs ok cool. Just trying to compare your footage for when I get my bike with its specs.

[@mtb_noobie1230]

Maybe when you come back the new park will be open

[@ClintGibbs]

Which one?

[@mtb_noobie1230]

@@ClintGibbs berm park

[@malanalan1]

One day, someone is going to sue Kanuga Bike Park. Did you have to sign a disclaimer? There should be absolutely no trees along trails.

[@ClintGibbs]

Yes, like any bike park you have to sign a waiver when buying your pass. Trees are a part of east coast mountain biking.

[@jimrutherford2773]

Lots of off-camber stuff.

[@thiosemicarbizidebenzoylal2921]

The dude in front is positioned correctly for riding downhill, you are too upright and dont relax your forearms when hitting the bumps. Let the bike flow into the trail like the dude in front.